The final Farmers’ Market was held on Sept. 22, and the inaugural year has proven to be a successful one, with happy customers, and vendors heading home empty handed. 

The Jasper Local Food Society (JLFS) hosted the markets each Wednesday starting in July, and Lori Wynn, executive of the society, said they are happy with the outcome. 

“We were incredibly pleased with the success of the first season,” Wynn said. 

The JLFS had hoped to get the Farmers’ Market off the ground this year, and had little idea how well things would turn out.

“We weren’t sure how it was going to roll,” Wynn said. 

Each Wednesday afternoon had great weather and a massive turnout at the lunch hour. Many vendors returned without any leafy greens, and the popularity grew throughout the season. More vendors expressed interest, and artisans joined on as the summer progressed. 

“We had a really supportive group of sellers,” Wynn said.  

She added that despite the success, the markets had one major shortcoming they hope to address for 2011. Because the society did not have a license to hold a farmers’ market, they were limited in what they could sell. Licensing is done by Alberta Agriculture; having a license means the market can sell absolutely anything. Without one, the Jasper Farmers’ Market was only able to sell produce and artisan’s goods. Anything processed, such as baked goods and canned products, can’t be sold at an unlicensed market. Those vendors that were selling baked goods did so with their own commercial food licenses. 

“We were limited in what we were able to sell,” Wynn said. 

Now that the society has finished with proceedings to become a registered not-for-profit society, over the winter they will turn their attention to obtaining a license to open up the market to all vendors. Licensing can take up to eight weeks to complete. The society aimed at starting the market small to ensure its sustainability and they hoped to assess how popular the event would be before they entered into the licensing process.

Next year, the society hopes to work with the Municipality of Jasper to talk about business licensing. Wynn said they want to make sure all licensing is proper, and that local businesses don’t feel as if their toes are being stepped on. 

“We need to work with the Municipality of Jasper to resolve that issue,” she said. 

Wynn is unsure just how many people utilized the market this year, but plans to speak with several vendors to find out how business was. She said vendors have told them they appreciate the opening of the Jasper market. 

“They were really thrilled to come and share the fruits of their labour with the people of Jasper,” she said, adding that the Jasper market helped supplement sales in the Robson Valley for many of the vendors. 

The JLFS had support from the Legion and École Desrochers, who offered up their parking lot to host the market.

“They were super co-operative and really supportive,” Wynn said of the Legion, going on to thank École Desrochers. “They were happy to have us as well.”

Other winter plans include further education on local food with a speaker series, and expanding the community garden. 

“There’s been overwhelming interest in the community garden,” Wynn said. 

Due to that demand, she said the society could be looking at finding more garden space to supplement the library location.